NEXT week's Killarney Towers Hotel Historic Rally that has former Citroen WR driver Kris Meeke heading the capacity entry in a BMW M3 E30 will also include local Killarney driver Alan Ring and his Newcestown co-driver Adrian Deasy debuting a new Subaru Impreza.

The car is one of just eight Colin McRae Group A Subaru Impreza 555 tribute cars built by Italian firm BEST. Ring's car (Acropolis Rally 1996) is No. 5 of 8.

The Historic Rally of the Lakes, the brainchild of the late Maurice Nagle that was first run in 1996, has become hugely popular. The rally will consist of a total of eight stages beginning with Moll's Gap at 8.30am on the Saturday morning that will be followed by a service in Kenmare.

The crews will then tackle a double loop of three stages – Lissyclearig, Roughty River and Sheen River – with a service after each loop. The penultimate stage (SS8) is Moll's Gap, but this time it will begin in Kenmare and end in Killarney. Following a service, it will be repeated in darkness (5.45pm) that will conclude the action. The awards presentation takes place at the Avenue Hotel, Killarney.

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On Monday, Motorsport Ireland announced the appointment of Thurles man Pat Finn as their Head of Motorsport, a new position within the MI administrative structure where his duties will be assigned by the board of the Irish Motorsport Federation (IMF). Mr. Finn, who will take up the role next January, will be responsible for the day-to-day running of Motorsport in Ireland along with implementing the strategic plan, building relationships, networking with community business organisations and overseeing all motorsport related activities.

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Three West Cork competitors were honoured at the Triton Showers National Rally Championship prizegiving. Co-drivers Dylan Doonan (Barryroe) and Sean Hayde (Enniskeane) and Dunmanway driver Ger O'Connell all received class awards in the eight-round series that concluded with the recent Fastnet Rally that was based in Bantry.

Doonan partnered Tyrone's Barry Morris (Darrian T90 GTR) and the pair were presented with the top award in Class 14. Throughout the season they were also in contention for the two-wheel drive award that went to Cavan's Chris Armstrong/Darren Curran (Ford Escort), who garnered more points from their best six events.

Enniskeane's Sean Hayde and his Roscommon driver Bobby Cooper (Mitsubishi Lancer E9) were second in Class 4 while Dunmanway's Ger O'Connell finished third in the Drivers' category in Class 12.

The 2026 series will continue to be underpinned by Triton Showers, next season's dates are as follows: Mayo Rally (March 1st); Birr Rally (March 29th); Monaghan Rally (April 12th); Carlow Rally (May 17th); Circuit of Munster Rally (May 31st); Stonethrowers Rally (July 12th); Galway Rally (August 23rd); Donegal Harvest Rally (October 10th).

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Youghal driver Ross Ryan (19), who was co-driven by Peter Keohane (The Pike) when he started out rallying, is one of six drivers nominated for this year's Billy Coleman ‘Young Rally Driver of the Year’ award. He was chosen for finishing as the highest placed eligible driver within Class 2A of the Sligo Pallets National Forestry Rally Championship. The other five nominees are Meath's Cian Caldwell (21), Wexford’s Jack Kennedy (20) Donegal drivers Kyle McBride (22) and Joe Kelly (22) and Clonmel's Casey Jay Coleman (22). The interviews will take place on November 26th following which three drivers will be selected with the overall winner and two runners-up announced at the Motorsport Ireland Champions Awards lunch in Dublin on December 3rd.

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The National Navigation Motorsport Trial Championship continued last weekend with the Midland Navigation Trial, round three of the series that was won by Longford's Colin Duffy/Sam Johnston (Subaru Impreza). Four Cork crews made the long journey to Ballinamuck where Mallow's Derek Butler/Aaron O'Regan (Subaru Impreza) finished fourth overall and the top Cork crew.  Mogeely's James Fitzgerald and Ballincollig's Ken Carmody, also in a Subaru, were sixth. Mayfield's Trevor O'Callaghan and Donoughmore's Patrick O'Leary and Ovens driver Owen Murphy and his navigator Patrick O'Sullivan finished ninth and tenth respectively.

The next round of the series is the Carbery Navigation Trial (December 6th) that will be based at the headquarters of Bandon Rugby Club.